Temporary structure and method of forming same



May 27, 1924. mssam o. STROMBORG TEMPORARY STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed Dec. 18 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BNVENTQR @aaarfifmm org May 27, 1924. 95310 0. STROMBORG TEMPORARY STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed Dec. 18 1920 5 SheetS' -Sheet 2 May 27, 1924 O. STROMBORG TEMPORARY STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING saws Filed Dec. 18 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NV E NT 0 R Oscar .fi'zrombor 0. STROMBORG TEMPORARY STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME may 27 ee'c ' Filed Dec. 18, 1920 SHQ ERI

May 27 1924. 3,495,310

O. STROMBORG TEMPORARY STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed Dec. 18. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 u NVENTOR Oscar Shhmb Patented May 27, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,495,310 PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR STROMBORG, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

rnmronemr srrwcrunn AND mn'rnon or romrmeisnmr.

Application filed December 18, 1920. sum in. 431,766.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OsoAR STROMBORG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles shape for the purpose of eflecting temporary repairs or attachments j or erecting a structure of more or less temporary character, and which is applicable for use in restrict ing or directing the flow of water, and in confining a liquid to hold it from flowing into areas desired to be protected until permanent changes or structures can be made, such for exam 1e, as in the raising and recovery of sun en vessels, the erection of dams, piers, docks, breakwaters, and the like, in preventing seepage in excavations, such as mines, tunnels, etc., and which may also be employed in effecting a temporary connection with surfaces as in attaching hoisting means to submerged vessels and the like and recovery of any other objects from a submerged position.

Another object is to provide a temporary structure of the above character which may be readily put in place and easily and quickly removed, and which may be designed to have the necessary strength to effect the purpose for which it is intended.

A further object is to provide a means for forming ice structures within bodies of water by which a structure may be formed at submerged points and at great depths or erected in running streams and swift currents.

Other objects of the invention and various advantages derived by its use will be realized from the examplesgiven.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example the manner of applying the invention to several uses, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation with parts broken away showing a fabricated structure with refrigerating pipes therein for freezing a body of ice on the structure.

ture is formed.

. Figure 2 is a view in section as seenon the line 22 of Figure 1 showing the fabricated structure as submerged in a liquid prev1ou s to the refrigerating operation.

F igure 3 is a similar view showing the manner in which the completed frozen struc- Figui'e 4. is a plan view of a hull of a ship show ng the manner of employing the invent1on lnclosing deck openings in raising sunken vessels.

Figure 5 is a detail in vertical section illustrating the manner of closing openings Figure 6 is a view in side elevation showin the sides of ship hulls and the like.

ing the manner of employing the invention in effecting connections with a ships hullr Figure is a plan view illustrating the application of the invention to the construction of cofl'er-dams and the like.

Flgure 8 is a view of the dam as seen in elevation. Figure 9.is a detail cross section illustratmg the manner of forming the dam.

Figure 10 is a detail vertical section as 'seen on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

' Flgure 11 is a view in vertical section showing the application of the invention to the construction of an arch or truss.

Figure. 12 is a view in section as seen on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a view in vertical section illustrating the invention as applied in closing underground water courses to prevent seepage,

Figure 14 is a view in elevation as seen in the direction of the arrow 14 in Figure 13. Referring to the drawings more specifically, 15 indicates a conduit of anysuitable character through which any desired refrigerating medium may be passed to effect a freezing action on a liquid in which the conduit may be submerged or which may be applied thereto to form a body of ice; and

16 designates a series of reinforcing members here shown as comprising rods which are arranged adjacent to the conduit, but which may consist of any desired/construction or material and arrangement of reinfit) the reinforcement may be used. .Extending over the outer portion of the structure is a wall 17 formed of fabric, screen or other suitable material for the purpose of confining liquids to be frozen around the.

fabricated structure and inhibit excessive currents throughout the structure tending to retard or interfere with the freezing action, and which wall may also serve to protect the frozen body against attrition orwearing away under the action of outside currents to which it might be subjected. This wall will also help to give suitable form to the frozen part.

In carrying out my invention, a refrigerating element embodying the conduit 15 with the suitable reinforcement 16 and covering wall 17 attached thereto is sub merged inthe liquid, as shown in Figure 2, whereupon on directing a refrigerating medium through the conduit the liquid in the vicinity of the conduit Will be frozen to form a solid body 18, as shown in Fig ure 3, which is strengthened and reinforced by the conduit and the reinforcing elements'and is protected by the wall 1?.

Where itis desired to form a wall or body of considerable thickness and density the refrigerating conduit is formed in coils or layers arranged in such proximity to each other that the freezing zones of adjacent conduit portions will overlap so as to freeze the liquid between the conduits. The refrigerating medium may be supplied and caused to flow through the conduit by any suitable refrigerating apparatus located at any convenient point.

In the application of the invention to raising sunken vessels, the freezing element may be employed as a means for closing openings in the vessels hull, as shown in Figures 2t and 5, or as a means for connecting lifting appliances to the hull or other parts, as shown in Figure 6. Where it is desired to raise a sunken vessel by closing the openings in the hull and pumping out the water to render it buoyant the freezing element is placed over the openings in the hull, such as the ventilators, hatchways, etc., so that when the freezing operations have been effected walls of ice will seal the openings; the walls of ice being formed of such size as occasion may require and reinforced to such extent as to prevent pressures from collapsing the structure while the salvaging is proceeding. Where a vessel has been stowed in, a freezing element may be disposed over the opening 18, as shown in Figure 5, to form an ice patch to temporarily close the opening.

In some. instances it may be necessary to dispose freezing elements with reinforcements interiorly of the hull so that the frozen structure will serve to further strengthen the hull. The same system might be applied to strengthen decks, so that they can withstand strains not expected and provided for in the building of the boat.

Where it is desired to fasten hoisting means to the hull or other parts of the vessel the freezing elements coupled to cables 19 of any suitable hoisting mechanism are arrangedat a convenient point. on the hull or other parts so that when the liquid adjacent to the element is frozen the solidified mass will adhere to and serve as a connection between the hoisting cables and the hull and parts, as shown in Figure ii. In this application of the invention, the freezing element may be designed to extend substantially throughout the length of the hull so as to provide a large area for cohesion of the ice therewith, or a series of the elements may be used to properly distribute the strains connected with the operation.

A similar arrangement is suitable for the recovery of submerged articles of any and all kinds and hoisting or lifting portions of the bottom itself if so desired. It is done simply by lowering a freezing element of any suitable form and strength required, solidifying the liquid surrounding or interpenetrating the parts or particles wanted and lifting the total to a suitable place. Then the freezing medium is shut off and if quick thawing is wanted, it can be accomplished by the blowing of steam or other heating means through the coils.

In the application of the invention, to the construction of cofferdams and the like, as shown in Figures 7, 8, 9. and 10 inclusive, a fabricated structure of suitable design may be lowered whole or in sections into abody of water so that when the ice is formed around the freezing element a solid wall will be formed, and where the dam is constructedin a running stream it may be fitted with flumes or pipes 20 to allow water to pass through the dam, as is common in coffer-dam construction. In like manner, an ice wall may be formed in a body of water to facilitate the construction of breakwaters, piers, dry docks, and the like.

In the application of the invention to the construction of girders, columns, arches,

and structures of various kinds for temporary supports, suitable forms may be provided in which the freezing element is placed so as to freeze water poured into the form to provide a solid structure which may be built up either as a whole or formed of units or sections as occasion may require. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate structures formed in this manner. In this application of the invention, the ice structure may be formed in any desired location, and be constructed by erecting a reinforcing frame work around refrigerating conduits encased in a suitable housing or form h liq id to e f oz n di ec ed iate ill) m an form in any suitable manner to build up the ice structure.

In the application of the invention, to damming of subterranean streams, as in mines, tunnels, quarries, and other excavations, as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, the freezing structure is arranged at a suitable point in the path of the stream and securely anchored against displacement; a wall 22 being provided to form a space 23 rearward of the structure into which concrete or other plastic material may be introduced after the ice Wall or patch has been formed so as to effectively seal the outlet of the stream through pipe in any desired manner.

Throughout the various uses to which the invention may be put it is desirable to employ the wall or covering 17 and arranging it to extend over the outer or exposed portion of the ice structure both to confine the body of liquid surrounding the freezing conduit in this way giving the desired form to the frozen parts as well as to. protect and strengthen the outer surface of the structure, but in many instances this covering may be dispensed with if. so desired. When the liquid that is beingv solidified is very impure, it is preferable to provide this wall or covering with suitable holes 25 as shown in Fig. 5 so as to allow the concentrated impurities to be displaced with purer liquid by gravity.

By employing my invention a temporary wall or structure may be readily formed in locations which ordinarily are not accessible or are extremely difiicult to reach, for example, at great depths in bodies of water, or in swift currents, or in places exposed to winds and wave motion as the refrigerating elements and reinforcing members may be constructed of suitable size and shape in a ship and quickly disposed in the desired position. As the ice structure forms on the refrigerating conduits in outward progression or accumulation, my method of forming a temporary structure as herein set forth affords a convenient means for building a structure on or around irregular bodies, as the frame work and conduitsneed not be constructed to exactly fit the part to which the structure is to be applied as the ice in building up around the conduits will extend over and around the surfaces of bodies adj acent thereto and conform itself to all irregularities. This obviates the necessity of constructing the frame work with accuracy.

While I have shown and described several specific embodiments of my invention and illustrated them 'as applied to several uses, 1 do not limit myself to the exact details of construction or arrangement of the parts or to the uses shown.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a temporary structure consisting in erecting a reinforcing frame work, incorporating refrigerating conduits in the frame-work, directing a refrigerating medium through said conduits, and applying a liquid to said conduits and frame work in such manner as to solidify the liquid to form a frozen body in which the conduits and frame work will be embedded.

2. The method of forming a temporary structure consisting in submerging a refrigerating conduit accompanied by a frame work of reinforcements and a flexible wall in a body of liquid, and directing a refrigerating medium through said conduit to freeze the liquid adjacent the conduit and frame work to form a frozen body reinforced b the frame work and conduits and covered y the wall.

3. A temporary structure comprising refrigerating conduits for solidifying liquids to form a frozen body around said conduits when a refrigerating medium is passed through the conduits, and a flexible wall or limit surrounding the body for protection.

4. A temporarystructure comprising refrigerating conduits for solidifying liquids to form a frozen body around said conduits when a refrigerating medium is passed through the conduits, and a flexible wall or limit surrounding the body to shape or form same.

5. A temporary structure comprising refrigerating conduits for solidifying liquids to form a frozen body around said conduits when a refrigerating. medium is passed through the conduits, and a wall or limit surrounding the body formed with vents for a limited displacement of impurities.

- OSCAR STROMBORG. 

